Apex Fun Run vs The Alternative Board
Apex Fun Run vs The Alternative Board: Apex Fun Run costs $29K to $210K to open; The Alternative Board costs $41K to $103K. Apex Fun Run has 18 units, The Alternative Board has 13. SBA loan history: Apex Fun Run = 26 loans (23.1% default); The Alternative Board = 13 loans (23.1% default). The franchise with more SBA funded units, a lower SBA default rate, and a lower royalty load is the safer financing bet; see the comparison below.
Apex Fun Run vs The Alternative Board: Capital, Scale & Lending Analysis
Analysis based on FDD filings and SBA 7(a) loan level data. Each pairing reflects a unique combination of capital intensity, system scale, and financing path.
Capital Intensity
Apex Fun Run requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($29K vs $41K for The Alternative Board), a 29% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $50K for Apex Fun Run versus $20K for The Alternative Board, The Alternative Board has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 8% for Apex Fun Run and 20% for The Alternative Board, giving Apex Fun Run the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Apex Fun Run operates 18 units to The Alternative Board's 13. The Alternative Board has been operating 17 years (founded 2009) versus 15 for Apex Fun Run (founded 2011), a 2-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Apex Fun Run has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 26 7(a) approvals compared with 13 for The Alternative Board. Apex Fun Run's peak SBA year was 2017 (6 loans); The Alternative Board's peak was 2021 (3 loans). The Alternative Board's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Apex Fun Run has the most SBA funded units in NV, with 3. The Alternative Board leads in CO, with 2. Borrowers should pick the brand whose strongest SBA state matches their own state for warmer lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Apex Fun Run deals is $216K vs $114K for The Alternative Board, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 23.1% for Apex Fun Run and 23.1% for The Alternative Board. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 46 (Fair) for Apex Fun Run and 38 (Fair) for The Alternative Board, giving Apex Fun Run the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 46/100 | 38/100 |
Health Tier | Fair | Fair |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 26 | 13 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 23.1% | 23.1% |
Peer Tier | established | growing |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $29K to $210K | $41K to $103K |
Franchise Fee | $50K | $20K |
Royalty Rate | 8% | 20% |
Ad Fund | 2% | 2% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | N/A |
Net Worth Required | N/A | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 18 | 13 |
Franchised Units | 18 | 13 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | 5 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 2011 | 2009 |
Franchising Since | 2021 | 2008 |
Years Franchising | 5 yrs | 18 yrs |
Headquarters | NV | Westminster, CO |
Category | All Other Business Support Services | All Other Business Support Services |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2025 | 2026 |
Which Is Better, Apex Fun Run or The Alternative Board?
Lower upfront capital required
Apex Fun Run
Apex Fun Run: $29K starting · The Alternative Board: $41K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Apex Fun Run
Apex Fun Run: 26 SBA loans · The Alternative Board: 13 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Tie
Apex Fun Run: 23.1% · The Alternative Board: 23.1%
Larger system & brand presence
Apex Fun Run
Apex Fun Run: 18 units · The Alternative Board: 13 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Apex Fun Run
Apex Fun Run: 8% · The Alternative Board: 20%
More lender financing options
Apex Fun Run
Apex Fun Run: 10 unique lenders · The Alternative Board: 9 unique lenders
Decision matrix uses publicly disclosed FDD and SBA loan data. Not a recommendation. Your best franchise depends on capital, market, operating capacity, and risk tolerance.
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About These Franchises
Apex Fun Run vs The Alternative Board: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Apex Fun Run and The Alternative Board is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $29K to $210K.
Apex Fun Run has 26 SBA loans on record and The Alternative Board has 13. Those totals are cumulative history rather than a measure of current appetite. Recent lending activity is trending down for at least one of these brands, so current lender appetite has to be checked deal by deal rather than assumed from the totals.
SBA 7(a) loans are the most common franchise funding vehicle, offering up to $5M with as little as 10% down. PeerSense connects franchise buyers with the specific lenders who have approved loans for these brands, not generic referrals, but lenders with actual franchise lending track records.
Data sourced from SBA loan records, Franchise Disclosure Documents, and public filings. Updated regularly. Not financial advice, consult with a lending professional before making investment decisions.
Apex Fun Run vs The Alternative Board, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Apex Fun Run or The Alternative Board?
How much does a Apex Fun Run franchise cost compared to The Alternative Board?
Can I finance Apex Fun Run or The Alternative Board with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Apex Fun Run or The Alternative Board?
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Page Review
Reviewed by Edward L. Freeman, Founder and Managing Director, PeerSense
- PeerSense is a capital advisory firm that places commercial financing with direct capital sources; the capital source sets final terms.
- Edward L. Freeman founded PeerSense in January 2020.
- He is a Registered Franchise Consultant with Business Alliance, Inc., a credential issued in March 2022, and worked as a franchise consultant there from March 2022 to May 2023.
- His recorded experience includes a $22 million SBA construction loan, with about $16 million funded on the deal.
- In the 12 months through September 30, 2026, PeerSense tracked 912 publicly announced financings with a disclosed size of $361.32 billion. PeerSense Capital Data Report · Methodology page
Last reviewed LinkedIn profileAbout Edward Freeman